Africa-Press – Botswana. President Advocate Duma Boko has urged regional governments to urgently respond to children’s challenges with speed and precision.
He also made a clarion call for all promises and commitments made to young people to be translated into concrete and measurable action.
President Boko said this when responding to issues raised by the Child President, and also President of the National Children’s Consultative Forum of Botswana, Ms Aumake Aaron, during the 2025 Sub-Regional World Children’s Day commemoration High Level Engagement between children and Heads of State and Governments in Gaborone on Saturday.
He commended the Child President, as well as the children parliamentarians for clearly articulating the daily challenges they faced and for boldly demanding decisive responses to issues affecting their well-being.
“They are not theorising. They are describing the realities they confront every day, urging us to respond with speed and focus and to turn promises into concrete deliverables,” he said.
He also praised the children for their contributions, which he said demonstrated remarkable depth, clarity and maturity. He also applauded the young participants for rightfully demanding a place at the decision-making table, stressing that their voices needed to be heared and acted upon.
Furthermore, the President reiterated his commitment to the younger generations’ needs, emphasising that “we continue on this journey with you, as many of you are the future of the continent.”
President Boko expressed delight at the strong regional participation, which he said demonstrated a growing commitment to fostering regional collaboration towards child protection and promotion of joint advocacy on issues affecting children across Southern Africa.
He also reaffirmed Botswana’s dedication to advancing children’s rights, noting that the country had established the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education and was currently reviewing the Children’s Act of 2009.
Additionally, President Boko highlighted Botswana’s strides in digitalising education. Currently, he said all senior secondary school teachers and learners were equipped with learning gadgets, including specialised adaptive devices for children living with disabilities.
However, he acknowledged persistent gaps in accessing high-speed Internet, emphasising that the government aimed to extend reliable connectivity to all schools and communities across the country. To address increasing online vulnerabilities affecting children, the President said government had implemented targeted cybersecurity interventions to safeguard young users in the digital space.
On education reforms, he said Botswana was transitioning to a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)-based education model, supported by curriculum reviews, teacher capacitation and the introduction of Robotics and Coding.
“These efforts aim to build creative thinkers and problem solvers ready for the future,” he added, highlighting the country’s commitment to equipping the younger generation with skills for the 21st century.
To mark the end of the event, President Boko officially handed over the World Children’s Day Torch of Hope to Lesotho Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Matekane, as the next country to host the 2026 day’s commemoration.
This year’s commemoration, held under the theme: My Day, My Rights: From Promises to Action, empowered children to express their views on issues affecting them, as well as share possible solutions on how best the regional leaders could address their problems.
The commemoration brought together representatives from eight countries, namely, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini, Mozambique and Lesotho.
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